FR2579897A1 - - Google Patents

Abstract

THE PRESENT INVENTION RELATES TO AN AUTOMATIC BALL SERVER DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR TO TABLE TENNIS BALLS. THIS DEVICE IS CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IT INCLUDES AN ENCLOSURE 2 INCLUDING A HEAD STRUCTURE 3, AT ONE OF ITS ENDS, AND AN ENTRY 11 FOR BALLS AT ITS OTHER END, WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER BY A FEED PASSAGE OF 25 MEANS FOR FEEDING THE BALLS TOWARDS THE FEED PASSAGE, THE BALLS BEING FEED UP UP, AGAINST GRAVITY, BY THE FEEDING MEANS, OF THE MEANS FOR THROWING A BALL FROM HEAD 3 WHEN INSERTING A BALL IN IT, MEANS TO ROTATE HEAD 3 WITH RESPECT TO ENVELOPE 2, MEANS TO ADJUST THE ELEVATION OF A BALL PROJECTED FROM OF HEAD 3, AND MEANS FOR ALTERNATIVELY MOVING, IN AN ADJUSTABLE MANNER, HEAD 3.

Description

The present invention relates to devices for launching balies and

  especially a net and a

  portable robot to recycle and serve in a sequential manner

  a plurality of table tennis balls in direct

  a player, with speeds and following adjustable trajectories. Although the invention is more particularly described in the case of an application 4 of robots for the practice of table tennis, it is obvious, for those skilled in the art, that the principles of

  the invention can be applied in other fields.

  It is already known, according to the prior art, various devices for serving balls for players, for training or for the practice of a sport such as table tennis, tennis and baseball. For example, US Pat. No. 2,087,575 discloses devices that can be used in table tennis, for example, to eject light balls. The device described in this patent comprises a suspended feed device,

  typically made in the form of a suspended hopper.

  This suspended hopper is fed by a conveyor com-

  por.tant a series of bodies carrying balls and which is mounted mechanically to move in a continuous loop.

  US Pat. No. 2,508,461 discloses an apparatus for ejecting

  table tennis balls using air under

  pressure, such as that from a domestic vacuum cleaner

  that, in order to propel and eject the bullets from a conduit. A gravity-fed slippack is provided to introduce a ball into a lower portion

  duct. This device does not provide any control over the

  bales and a lack of feed-corrected bales can result in loss of air pressure especially when a plurality of bales are introduced

in the system.

  No. 3,917,265 discloses another pneumatic bale ejection machine which comprises a device

  to transport the bales from a source

  trice to load bullets into an ejector

2 2579897

  and finally to eject these baelles. Again, maintaining air pressure in the device is critical. The ejection device has a plurality of cylinders mounted at constant angles to each other to provide a predetermined number of variants in the trajectories of the ejected bales. The effect on the ejected ball is given by random contact between the balie and the wall of a particular cylinder as that ball is propelled through that cylinder. This translates

  by an uncontrollable set of effects.

  US-4,116,438 discloses a device for projecting table tennis balls, which comprises a

  mechanical ejector device comprising two ejected disks

  Thin and flexible webs extending parallel to one another to catch a table tennis ball between them and project it along a guide. The properties of the material constituting the disks are thus important, because of the repeated bending of the disks. The balls are also returned to the server disks by a pneumatic device. US-2,793,636 discloses a ventilator-actuated device as well as devices disclosed in US-3,911,888 and 3,989,245.

  US Pat. No. 3,794,011 discloses a device relating to

  simply to give variations in the quantity

  effect applied 4 a ball thrown by a server. The

  of this patent is incorporated in this

  mande. Although all of these prior art devices as well as others serve the same purposes, it is

  because of the large number of these devices, that

  none of them solved the problem of providing an inexpensive, reliable, and relatively uncomplicated, automatic server device for table tennis. Pneumatic devices are not inherently reliable. Mechanically operated devices have been relatively complex when they have to assume all

  the functions. Even if the mechanical devices are sim-

  they do not give the possibility of providing a complete number of strokes for training or practice.

Sport.

  The presently described invention overcomes these shortcomings of previously known devices by providing a relatively inexpensive and easy-to-build robot that provides a complete range of play for both training and sporting purposes. . This robot, in combination with a return net,] 0 provides automatic rebound balls returned by a player. The construction of the device ensures a mechanical simplicity, a low cost and a wide

range of shots possibilities.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a portable server device for table tennis balls which closely follows the variety of services that

we can expect from a player.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide

  a high server device that is powered auto-

  balls from the level of a playing surface, without

  requires the provision of suspended hoppers.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide

  a table tennis ball server device that does not cause excessive wear or deformation of

  balls during operation of the device.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide

  nier a bullet server device that can be set to

distance from this device.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide

  nier a bale server device which is relatively simple to adjust and whose setting can be easily modified. Another object of the present invention is to provide a table tennis ball server device which accurately reproduces various combinations of speeds,

  effects and trajectories of bullets, as well as

  of service so as to enable the training of

  repeated a particular stroke or return.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide

  nir a bullet-throwing device having a functioning

  and flexible performance but a relative construction

simple and inexpensive.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide

  nier a bullet server device with

  which are not subject to excessive

  during a period of intensive employment.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide

  1feat a ball server device that recycles returned balls to allow training or play

  continuous with a minimum number of balls.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide

  a table tennis ball server device that automatically varies the trajectory of a ball served on

  long-predictable configuration.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide

  nir an automatic server device that has a model of

  controllable path for the service head.

  The following will be described by way of non-limiting examples.

  Various embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shape

  execution of a ball server device according to the

vention.

  FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view and

vertical of the device.

  FIG. 3 is a sectional view made according to the

  line 3-3 of the figure of Figure 2.

  FIG. 4 is a sectional view made according to the

line 4-4 of Figure 2.

  FIG. 5 is a sectional view made according to the

line 5-5 of Figure 2.

  FIG. 6 is a sectional view made according to the

line 6-6 of Figure 2.

  Figure 7 is a sectional view, broken away

  partial, taken along line 7-7 of Figure 2.

  FIG. 8 is a sectional view made according to the

line 8-R of FIG.

  Figure 9 is a block diagram of the system of

  Operation control for the device of Figure 1.

  FIG. 10 is an elevational view illustrating the

  operation of the net and the robot according to the invention.

  Figure 11 is a side view of the net and the

  robot shown in Figure 10.

  Figure 12 is a perspective view of a

  xth embodiment of the ball server device

according to the invention.

  FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view and

  of the device of Figure 12.

  Figure 14 is a perspective view of a third

  second embodiment of a bale server device

according to the invention.

  FIG. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view and

  of the device of Figure 14.

  Figure 16 is a sectional view, broken away

  partial, made along line 16-16 of Figure 13.

  FIG. 17 is a sectional view made according to the

line 17-17 of Figure 13.

  FIG. 18 is a sectional view made according to the

line 18-18 of Figure 13.

  Figure 19 is a sectional view, broken away

  partial, made along line 19-19 of Figure 18.

  Fig. 20 is a plan view of a combination

  a robot and a net using the robot of Figure 12.

  Figure 21 is a sectional view taken along the line 21-21 of Figure 20, showing the folded position of the net. Figure 22 is a sectional view, broken away

  partial, taken on line 22-22 of Figure 20.

  In general, the subject of the invention is a

  automatic bale server device which is particularly

  suitably adapted for use in table tennis.

  This robot includes a service head that can be adjusted

  along three axes of Cartesian Cartesian

  nelies, one of these axes being oriented vertically

  cally. A simplified scanning system operates, in conjunction with the service head, to vary the feed position of the bullets projected from the service head. The rotation of this head makes it possible to modify the effect given to the ball. Preferably a net is

  intended to collect balls returned by a player.

  A simplified structure is used to return to the

  service head the balls returned.

  Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a non-limiting embodiment of a robot according to the invention constituting a ball server device which is indicated by its set by reference numeral 1. This robot 1 comprises a envelope 2 delineating generally a service head 3, a scanning system 4 and a body 5, this robot 1 being used together with a mesh esembie 6 which can be better seen in the figures

  and 11 and will be described in detail later.

  The body 5 comprises a base 10 having an inlet 11 defined respectively by a bottom 12 and walls

lateral 13 and 14.

  An upper portion of the body 5 has a general shape

  rectangular line in plan and has an anterior wall

  15, side walls 16 and 17 and a posterior wall

  18. A lower portion of the body 5 is widened along a portion 19. This portion 19 is adapted to fit the base 10, by any suitable method. The front wall 15 of the body 5 has a mouth 20 formed in this wall along the junction of the bottom 12 and the inlet 11 and the widened portion 19 of the body 5. As described, the inlet 11 is designed to feed table tennis balls, for example, backward in

direction of the mouth 20.

  As can best be seen in Figures 1 and 3,

  the enlarged portion 19 is arranged to house a housing

  The feeding mechanism 25 functions to take out bales, for

  example, when they arrive at entry II and at the entrance to

  2n and to bring them inside the body 5 of the robot].

  This mechanism 25 comprises a feed motor 26 which drives a gear train 27. This gear train 27 comprises a relatively small first gear 29, driven by the motor 26, and a larger pinion 29. a purality of do-igts in. These fingers 30 rotate with pinion 29 and are adapted to come into contact with table tennis balls, for example, to force them inside the body 5 of the robot shell 1n 1. These fingers 30 can have a wide variety of shapes

  and their number may vary in other forms of

of the invention.

  The feed motor 26 and the gear train

  27 are mounted in the body 5 in any suitable manner.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the motor 26 is attached to a bracket 21 which is in turn attached to a wall of the

  5. Threaded fasteners are suitable for

  especially good for this connection. The motor 26 is a conventional AC drive motor whose output shaft is coupled to the pinion 28 of the gear train 27. This pinion 28 is in turn engaged with the pinion 29 to drive it. and turn the

fingers 30.

  The body 5 of the envelope 2 defines an internal feed passage 33 that can be better seen in Figures 3,5,6. The feed passage 33 is defined in the illustrated embodiment by a plurality of internally formed walls 34,35,36 and 37. The walls 34-37 extend vertically downwards, the lono of the passage 33,

  3nf and they provide one-off contacts for a

  38, while the latter are fed upwards, in the netting 33, by the feed mechanism

  25. On the body 5 and also mounted a fixing device

  which is shown in Figure 5 which will be described in detail later. It should be noted that the fixture fixture 50 is used to mount the next robot 1

the invention on the net set 6.

  As can be seen in FIG. 2, the feed passage 33 extends from the mouth 20 to the service head 3. This feed passage is generally vertical, except along the feed section. robot scan 1. At this point it forms an elbow 22 so as to intercon-

  connect the body 5 and the service head 3.

  As described, the food mechanism

  1 is significantly simpler than those known in the prior art, in that the robot 1 is designed to return bales arriving along the inlet 11 and to feed these bales from the mouth to the head 3. The feed passage is dimensioned such that the balls 38 fit relatively closely to the passage 33 when inserted into this passage. In other words, the balls are easy to move

  in passage 33 without exaggerated friction, but this

  Wise 33 has dimensions such that no jam can occur. In addition, the balls are supplied to the service head 3 in the "magazine" mode, that is to say that a ball is approaching the service head coming from the supply passage 33 only at the entrance. of a new ball, under the influence of the fingers 30, in the passage

  33. A player therefore needs a

  only one bullet in addition to those supplied in passage 33, to ensure continuous operation of the

  robot 1. The speed at which balls 38 are encountered

  by the fingers 30, for their insertion in the passage 33, is controlled by the feed motor 26, this

  speed that can be changed by the user of the robot 1.

  The scanning system 4 and the service head 3 work together with each other to allow a variation of the placement of a projected ball from the service head 3. As can best be seen in Figure 8 , this service head 3 is mounted on the scanning system 4 about a pivot axis 45. On this pivot axis 45 is also mounted a flange 46 syant a posterior edge 47. A plurality of notches 48 are formed

  in the edge 47, h purposes that will be discussed later.

  A pair of cam arms 40 and 41 are respectively attached to the pivot axis 45. These cam arms have a

  stop 42 which can be engaged ifelectively in the

  48 to position and thereby hold the respective cam arms 41 and 42 in preselected positions. As shown in Figure 8, the

  the service head 3 and the flange 46 are connected to each other.

  and they can both be rotated

around the pivot axis 45.

  Above the cam arms 41 and 42 is mounted a scanning motor 43. This scanning motor 43 is operably coupled to a drive member 44 for a cam follower 39 mounted thereon. This cam follower 39 is adapted to come into contact with the cam arms 40 and 41 and to slide along an edge of these arms during

  the rotation of the drive member of the cams 44.

  The simplified structure for sweeping the service head 3 is an important feature of the invention. The scanning operation will best be explained with reference to Fig. 8. When the spinner shaft 43 rotates, it rotates the cam driver 44 which in turn drives the cam follower 39 in

  contact with an edge of the arm 40. In the position

  In FIG. 8, the contact between the cam follower 39

  and the arm 40 causes the cam follower 39 to describe a work.

  linear jet during engine rotation and no movement

  However, while the motor 43 continues to rotate, the cam follower 39 then comes into contact with an edge of the arm 41.

  contact of the cam follower 39 with the arm 41 causes the

  application of a force which tends to rotate the service head 3 to the right in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 8. This rotation to the right continues until the cam follower 39 deviates from the cam arm 41 at point 52 which is also shown in Figure 8. Since the head is now found to have been

  moved to the right in the direction of the arrow

  shown in FIG. 8, when the cam follower

  In 2579897 comes into contact with the arm 40, at point 53, it exerts a force on the flap 46 and consequently on the service head 3 so as to drive the service head 3 in the direction opposite to that represented by the arrow 8, so that the head arrives at a center position at a point 54 indicated by the position of the cam follower 39 in FIG. 8. It is therefore conceivable that the movement of the cam arm 41 a position parallel to the cam arm 40 means that the service head 3 remains in this central position. In other words, when the cam arms 40 and 41 are parallel to each other, the cam follower 39 follows a linear path and the service head 3 remains in its central position. A displacement of the cam arm 40 to a position similar to that illustrated for the arm

  cam 41 only in a vertical direction relative to

  port in Figure 8, causes a total scan of the service head 3 between far left and far right positions. Similarly, the cam arms 40 and 41 can be

  placed in any intermediate stop position

  re in order to vary the amplitude of the sweeping motion

of the head 3.

  At the flap 46 is also attached a flange 60 in

  C. This flange 60 is dimensioned so as to be able to

  see receiving another flange 61 having a shape

  This flange 61 is in turn attached to a casing for the service head 3. Each of the flanges 60 and 61 preferably has at least one opening formed therein, which opening is dimensioned to receive a

  securing member 62. In addition, the flange 60 comprises

  door, as can be seen in Figure 1, a light 63 in which is housed the fastener file 62 and which allows the rotation of the head 3 around an arc defined by the arc of light 63. The inclination of the head 3 can thus be modified simply by unlocking a nut 91 mounted on the fixing member 62, by adjusting the head 3 in a desired inclination position and by reblocking

the nut 9].

  In the embodiment iiiustrée ie flask 61 is mounted on a collar 70. This collar 70 receives a flange

  71 of the head 3, with a sliding and sliding fit

  This allows a rotation of the head around the collar 70. Preferably an expansion structure 72 which comprises a bearing cage 73, a ball stop 74 and a resilient solilicating member 75 is mounted.

  in the collar 70 to allow a positioning in

  the service head 3 in relation to the positions in

rotation of the head.

  In the head 3 is mounted a motor 80 driving a service wheel, which comprises a shaft 81 coupled to a service wheel 82. A fixed block 85 is mounted along a lower portion of the head 3. As can be seen in FIG. 7, when a table tennis ball 38 approaches the head 3, this ball comes into contact with the fixed block 85 and the service wheel 82. This wheel 82 has an outer surface 86 which is preferably made of a material with a relatively high coefficient of friction, coming into contact with the ball and projecting it from

  an outlet port 90 in the head 3. According to a

  a double-wheel device as described in US Pat. No. 3,794,011. However, it has been found that

  that the use of a fixed block and a single wheel consis-

  is an improvement over the device according to this patent because only one drive wheel is required

  for the operation of the device. The single wheel

  the timing problems of the wheels or the motor (s) driving them. ULn effect is given to the balls 38 entering the head 3 by the rotation of this 3 around the collar 70. Since the feed passage 33 is fixed while the head 3 can be rotated relative to this passage, the balls entering the head 3 can be projected from the outlet port 90 having a

  effect which depends on the angle of which the head 3 has been turned.

  As indicated above, the trajectory of the hall can be changed by a movement of the head 3 along the slot 63, by a alignment of the locking nut ql91. As previously indicated, the sweeping movement of the head can be controlled by the movement of the

cam arm 40 and 41.

  The respective motors 26, sweep 43 and projection motor 80 are controlled by the use of a control device 88.

  motors 26, 43 and 80 is an AC motor

  vention whose speed can be controlled by the

  88. Preferably individual orders

  Both are provided for each of the motors so that the feed speed for the feed motor 26, the sweep speed and the expulsion speed of the balises from the outlet port 9n can be controlled individually. However, as a result of the new feed system used in the present invention the motor

  supply 26 must necessarily function

  at the same speed as the drive wheel or projection motor 80 so that the balls are

  continuously fed through the feed-through

  It is readily apparent that the controller 88 may be remote from the robot 1 in such a way that a player can vary the operation of that robot.

  robot i while he trains or plays.

  Referring now to FIG. 10, it will be seen that the threaded assembly 6n has a base 100 from which a column extends vertically upwards.

  central 101. This post 101 is connected to a hub 102 comprising

  as a plurality of arms 103,104,105,106 and 107 which extend outwardly from this pole. The number of arms and their angular position relative to the hub

  102 may vary according to the forms of execution of the

  vention. The arms 103-107 are intended to be folded over each other in a vertical position, as well as

  is indicated by the arrows in Figure 10. It can be

  see also, if desired, extensions of the arms 103 and 104, respectively indicated by the references

  and 111 so that the net assembly extends substantially

  This table 121 is conriventionnellp and will not be described in detail. It is sufficient to note that the net assembly is intended to extend around the end of the table 1111 so that the balls returned in response to the operation of the robot 1 are picked up by the net and brought back to the table. robot. The arms 103 and 107 have a plurality of fasteners 126 which allow the

  arm and h the whole net to be attached to the table 121.

  Butterfly nuts and fasteners fastened

  They are particularly suitable for this fixation.

  As indicated above, the robot 1 carries a fastening device 50. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the fastening device 50 comprises a flap 56 which defines a central opening.

  having dimensions allowing him to receive the arm ln5.

  The robot 1 and the arm 105 are attached to each other by conventional methods. The further fasteners fiietés 89 are particularly suitable. The robot 1 is slidably mounted on the pole 101, by adjusting the fixing member 2n 89, for a reason which will be described in detail

more

  A conventional net 130 is stretched over the arms of the assembly 6. The lower portion of the thread assembly 106 has a bottom 131 which is attached to the arms 103 and 104 and the remaining portions of the net. During the implementation of this invention, the robot 1 is piac6 such that its entry 11 is located below the height of the table 121. This isobtained by fixing the robot 1 to the arm 105 and sliding the robot downwards until the bottom 131 of the net assembly is stretched tightly downwards. As shown in FIG. 11, this has the effect of giving a slope to the side and to the front of the bottom 1.1 so that the balls returned to the net set

  6 are directed directly to the input II of the robot.

  The particular embodiment that is illustrated,

* is particularly suitable for convertible use. Au-

  said once that the robot 1 was attached to P'ensem-

  It can be removed simply by removing the fasteners 126 between the arms 103 and 107 and the table 121. In turn these arms can be folded up and the

  The device can be removed from the table 121 in a posi-

  relatively compact storage. The replacement is carried out rapidly in the reverse order in which the deployment of the arms 103107 and the mounting of the fasteners 126 on the table 121 ensure a reset.

  robot position 1 for its operation.

  The operation of the robot i according to the invention is relatively simple. Once a sufficient number of balls have been introduced or supplied to the robot 1 so that the feed passage 33 is full, this robot automatically throws a ball from the outlet port 90. has been described above, the mode of projecting a bale from the exit port 90 varies depending on the speed of the feed, sweep and throw motors, the positions of the sweeping arms 40 and 41, the rotational position of the head 3 on the collar 70 and the position of the head 3 relative to the light 63. All these factors can be modified individually or in combination so as to allow the robot to have much better performance, as far as

  the possibilities of play and the alternatives envisaged

  to those obtained with known dipositives

  quently. The characteristics of simplicity and

  The high performance of this invention makes it quite exceptional from the point of view of the ability of robot 1 to provide such a variety of possibilities for a cost.

relatively weak.

  The robot 1 according to the invention can be produced in various forms. For example as shown in Fig. 12, the body 5 has an enlarged lower portion 19 to define an enlarged mouth 20 which can

  facilitate the feeding of the bales to the robot 1.

  In addition the entry 11 of the robot 1 can be turned

  of 1800 so that the robot can be mounted say-

  121. This embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 21. In general, the robot, which is shown in FIG. 14, is similar to FIG.

  in robot 1 except for the points that will follow

  fever. The same reference numbers are used for similar parts. The main modification present in the robot 150, as indicated above, is the fact that the mouth 11 of the robot has been rotated by 1800 with respect to the head 3. A support 140 has a face 141 which is intended to abut against a front edge of the table 121, and an upper edge 142 which bears on the upper surface of the table 121. The support 141 also comprises a block 143 in which a plurality are formed

  of openings 144. These openings 144 are

  designed to receive a plurality of support members or arms 145 that can be better seen in Figure 22. These supports can be three in number, one of them being in contact with the upper surface of the table 121 while the other two are in contact with the underside

  from this table 121, as can be seen from the table below.

  The length of the arms coming into contact with the

  upper side of the table being significantly smaller

  that the length of the coming in contact with the inferior surface

  top of the table so as to block these arms on the table due to the weight of the robot. Naturally others

  provisions can be used, if desired.

  As shown in Figure 16, a

  single spring 135 is used to solicit block 85.

  Double springs are used in conjunction with the embodiment of the robot shown in FIG. 7. In either case the springs are used in such a way that

  way that the block 85 is self-adjusting.

  As a result of the new arrangement of the inlet 11, it is possible to use a net structure 152 that is significantly simplified with the robot 150. Thus, a star hub 153 is attached to the robot 150 along a support 151. A trough made of material The hub 153 carries a pair of arms 156 and 157 which serve to support a net 158. As in the case of the invention, the hub 153 is attached to the hub 153 and can be separated therefrom along a central link 155. of the embodiment of the robot 1, the arms and

  1'auqe may be folded into the dashed position

  felt in the figure], for the storage of the robot. We found that the 150 robot is significantly cheaper than the

  embodiments of the previous invention main-

  the fact that the structure. the net is simplified. In particular the trough 154 can be manufactured with a low cost and the removal of a frame on the ground is

  to a large extent the cause of the decrease in cost.

  However the robots themselves work from a

practically similar way.

  Many variants will be clearly visible for

  those skilled in the art having regard to the descri-

  preceding paragraph and the attached drawing. For example, the robot 1 can be sold in a series of steps, which reduces its cost even if it is initially low. As shown in the various figures, the shape and aesthetic appearance of the robot 1 can be modified in other embodiments of the invention. Although a unique bale throwing engine has been described as

  being preferred, one can employ, if desired, two

  tors. One or more of the adjustable devices can

  to be deleted, if a lower cost is desired. These values

  are simply illustrative.

Claims (18)

REVENDICATInNS   I.- Automatic bales server device   containerized in that it comprises an envelope (2) through which extends a bale supply passage (33), said envelope comprising a head structure (3), one of its ends, and an entrance (1.l) for balls   at the other end, which are connected to each other   through the feed passage (33), means (25) for feeding the bales to the feed passage   ] 0 (33), these means being operationally associated with the   trea (1)) balls of the casing (2), the balls being fed upwards, against gravity, by the feeding means (25) which are arranged in such a way that the insertion a bale in the feed passage (33) forcing a bale into the head structure (3), means for projecting a bale from the head (3) upon insertion of a bale ball in it,   means for rotating the head (3) relative to the enve-   loppe (2), these means being operatively associated with the head (3) and the casing (2), means for adjusting the é évation of a ball projected from the head (3), these means being connected operatively between the head (3)   and the envelope (2), and means for moving alternately   in an adjustable manner, the head (3) so as to   to follow an arched route, these last means linking opera-   tionally the head (3) to the casing (2).   2. Device according to claim 1,   characterized in that the means ensuring the rotation of the head relative to the casing (2) comprise stop means for defining a plurality of distinct positions   during rotation of the head (3).   3.- Device according to claim 2 characterized   in that the stop means comprise a structure relaxing (72).   4.- Device according to claim 2 characterized   characterized in that the means for adjustably moving the head (3) comprises a cam follower (39) and cam devices for defining a plurality of limits for movement of the head (3).   5.- Device according to claim 4,   characterized in that it further comprises a net assembly   (6) comprising a central portion (102) from the-   a plurality of arms (103-107) extend towards the   a net (130) extending between these arms, this threaded assembly (6) being operatively attached to server device.   6. Device according to claim 5,   in that the server device is placed, in   port to the bottom wall of the net (130), so as to bring this net to form on a sloping side (131) along   bottom wall of the net, in order to allow the feeding of   the balls to the server device.   7. Device according to claim 6,   characterized in that the projection means comprise a wheel (82) rotatably mounted on the casing (2), means   (80,81) to drive this wheel (82), and a block of   (85) arranged to support a ball before its   expulsion of the service head (3).   8. Device according to claim 7,   characterized in that the friction block (85) is   elastically in order to compensate for the wear of this block of fri- ction.   9.- Automated automatic bale server device   carrying a head and an envelope, characterized in that it comprises means allowing a scanning movement of   the service head (3), these means being connected operatively   between the head (3) and the casing (2), these scanning means comprising a frame pivotally mounted on the casing and operably connected to the head (3), a pair of cam arms (41,42). mounted on the pivot point of the frame, a motor (43) mounted on the casing (2) and cam means driven by the motor (42) for act on the cam arms (41,42).   10.- Device according to claim In carac-   characterized in that the two cam arms (41,42) are movably mounted on the frame so as to define a plurality of positions for the cam means.   11.- Bale server robot characterized in that it comprises a threaded assembly (152) having a central portion (153) from which extends a plurality of arms (156-157), and a thread (158). ) extending between these arms, this server robot (150) being mounted on this assembly to   net (152) and arranged in such a way that its inferior wall   (154) feeds the bales towards the robot (150).   12.- Bale server robot according to claim   cation 11 characterized in that the lower wall (154) of the   robot is a separable trough to allow arms (156,157).   13.- Bale server robot according to claim   cation 12 characterized in that it further comprises means (140-145) for fixing the robot (150) to a table (121).   14.- Bale server robot according to claim   cation 13 characterized in that the fastening means (140-145) comprise a plurality of arms (145) mounted between the robot (150) and the respective upper and lower surfaces of the table (121), the length of the arms ( 145) coming into contact with the upper surface of the table (121) being substantially smaller than the length of the arms (145) contacting the bottom surface of the table so as to lock these arms on the table by following the weight of the robot.   15.- server server robot according to the   cation 14 characterized in that it comprises a casing (2) through which extends a feed passage (33), this casing comprising a head structure (3), at one of its ends, and a entry (11) for balls 2n   at the other end, which are connected to each other   through the feed passage (33), means (25) for feeding the bales to the feed passage   (33), these means being operatively associated with the   1), the bales being fed upwards, against gravity, by the feeding means (25) which are arranged in such a way that the insertion of the bales (2) a ball in the feed passage (33) forcing a ball into the head structure (3), means for throwing a ball from the head (3) upon insertion of a ball in it,   means for rotating the head (3) with respect to the   ioppe (2), these means being operationally associated with the head (3) and the casing (2), means for adjusting the elevation of a ball projected from the head (3), these means being connected operatively between the head (3)   and the envelope (2), and means for moving alternately   in an adjustable manner, the head (3), the latter means operatively connecting the head (3) to the casing (2).   16.- Bale server robot according to claim   cation 15 characterized in that it further comprises robot operation control means which are located at a distance from the robot and which are operatively connected to this one.   17.- Bale server robot characterized in that it comprises an envelope (2) through which extends a passage (33) for feeding the bales, this envelope (2) having an inlet (11) to the one of its ends and a head   of service (3) at a second end, this service head   vice (3) being rotatably mounted relative to the casing   pe, and means for projecting balies from the head (3), these projection means comprising a wheel (82) rotatably mounted on the casing, means (80, 81) for driving the wheel and a block friction device (85) positioned to support a ball before being expelled from of the service head (3). 2 1   18.- Disposi tif automatic bullet server   carrying a service head and an envelope, characterized in that it comprises means for allowing a sweeping of the head (3), these means being operatively connected between the head (3) and the casing (2), the means apparatus comprising a frame pivotally mounted on the casing and operatively connected to the head, a pair of cam arms (41,42) mounted on the pivot point of the frame, a motor (43) operatively mounted on the casing (2) and cam means driven by the motor (42) for   come into contact with the cam arms (41,42).